{"id":4484,"date":"2013-08-09T17:37:13","date_gmt":"2013-08-09T16:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/insidejapanblog.com\/?p=4484"},"modified":"2025-03-19T08:21:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T08:21:29","slug":"sumo-wrestling-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/09\/sumo-wrestling-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Sumo Wrestling History"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4484&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4484\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4484&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4484&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4484%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4484\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4484\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><h3><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-3115\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/dsc_4126.jpg?w=300\" alt=\"sumo wrestling history \" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/dsc_4126.jpg 448w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/dsc_4126-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/dsc_4126-390x259.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Sumo Wrestling History<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>While Sumo, Japan\u2019s national sport dates back 2000 years, it didn\u2019t begin to flourish as a spectator sport until the early 1600s. \u00a0Sumo is a full contact sport, where 2 wrestlers, known as Rikshiki compete to force one another out of the ring. While sumo has evolved throughout the centuries, today\u2019s sumo still retains some of the traditions of ancient Japanese tradition.<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s rishiki still perform pre-bout ceremonies that are steeped in the tradition of Shinto, Japan\u2019s native religion. Shinto traditions include ceremonies and rituals as opposed to a definite belief system or code of ethics; sumo was performed during festivals to entertain the gods.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Symbolic References to Shinto<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The canopy that is above the ring resembles the roof seen on a Shinto shrine.<\/li>\n<li>The sand covering the clay of the ring is a symbol of purity.<\/li>\n<li>Each corner of the canopy has four tassels. Each tassel represents the four seasons.<\/li>\n<li>The purple bunting around the roof represents the drifting of clouds and season rotation.<\/li>\n<li>Cuttlefish, chestnuts and kelp are placed in the ring, as well as prayers for safety.<\/li>\n<li>The referee uniform closely resembles a Shinto priest\u2019s traditional robe.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Sport of Sumo Wrestling<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Only the bottom of the rikishis\u2019 feet can touch the floor. The first rikishi to have any other part of his body touch the floor or that exits the ring, loses.<\/p>\n<p>Practice sessions begin right before and during major tournaments. During these practice bouts in the makeshift ring, the winner remains in the ring until another rikishi beats him. After a bout ends, all the rikishi rush into the ring, in the hope of becoming the winner\u2019s next opponent.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Sumo Moves<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Chon-gake<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tip opponent\u2019s right ankle with the right leg or left ankle with left leg and then push him down.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hataki-komi<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pull opponent down to the ring using his head, shoulders or neck.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gassho-hineri<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Grip the opponent\u2019s head using both hands and twist him down.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Bout Begins<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>As the actual bout begins, the two rikishi spend a few minutes before their match scaring away demons by lifting their legs high in the air and then stomping. Each rikishi also throws salt into the ring and around his body. This practice is done to protect him from injuries.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>After the Final Bout<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The bow twirling (yumi-tori) ceremony is performed by a rikishi who has a makushita, the third highest, rank. True fans of sumo will remain seated until this ritual is completed.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>A Cultural Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Sumo wrestling history offers insight into the Japanese culture. Because many of the aspects of sumo remain the same, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2014\/09\/16\/11-amazing-things-you-probably-never-knew-about-sumo-wrestling\">sumo is more than just a sport<\/a>; it offers a living example of the traditional Japanese culture.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>When and Where<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>There are six major tournaments a year. These tournaments take place in cities all over Japan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The tournament sites and months are:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>January &#8211; Tokyo<\/li>\n<li>March &#8211; Osaka<\/li>\n<li>May &#8211; Tokyo<\/li>\n<li>July &#8211; Nagoya<\/li>\n<li>September &#8211; Tokyo<\/li>\n<li>November &#8211; Fukuoka<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! Sumo Wrestling History While Sumo, Japan\u2019s national sport dates back 2000 years, it didn\u2019t begin to flourish as a spectator sport until the early 1600s. \u00a0Sumo is a full contact sport, where 2 wrestlers, known as Rikshiki compete to force one another out of the ring. While [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2369],"tags":[2148],"class_list":["post-4484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports-and-adventure-in-japan","tag-sumo"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4484"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34970,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4484\/revisions\/34970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}